Polymer mixtures of high ageing resistance

ABSTRACT

Molding compounds of 
     (A) 5 to 95% by weight of a graft product of a mixture of 50 to 100 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof and 0 to 50 parts by weight acrylonitrile on a particulate silicone rubber with a mean particle diameter (d 50 ) of from 0.10 to 0.50 μm having a total rubber content of from 30 to 90% by weight and 
     (B) 95 to 5% by weight of a graft product of a mixture of 50 to 100 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof and 0 to 50 parts by weight acrylonitrile on a particulate acrylate rubber with a mean particle diameter (d 50 ) of from 0.05 to 1.00 μm having a total rubber content of 30 to 80% by weight.

This invention relates to polymer alloys having high weathering and ageing resistance, good processing properties and high strength at low temperatures.

Polymer alloys of high ageing resistance are known and include, for example, graft polymers based on crosslinked acrylate rubbers in combination with a thermoplastic resin , so-called ASA polymers (cf. for example DE-AS 12 60 135, DE-OS 19 11 882, DE-OS 28 26 925, EP-A-71 098) and graft polymers based on ethylene/propylene/diene rubbers (EPDM rubbers) in combination with a thermoplastic resin, so-called AES polymers (cf. for example DE-OS 28 30 232, DE-OS 30 01 766, EP-A 121 327, EP-A-134 154).

Whereas both ASA and AES polymers show high strength at room temperature, their strength decreases rapidly with falling temperature, leading ultimately to brittle fracture at temperatures of from about 0° C. to -40° C.

It has been found that thermoplastic polymer alloys combining very high weathering resistance with high strength at low temperatures are obtained when ASA systems, in which the rubber phase has a special particle size, are combined with graft products based on silicone rubber having a special particle size. The resulting thermoplastic polymer alloys are also distinguished by improved processing properties.

The present invention relates to thermoplastic molding compounds of A) 5 to 95% by weight and preferably 20 to 80% by weight of a graft product of a mixture of 50 to 100 parts by weight and preferably 60 to 95 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, preferably p-methyl styrene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof and 0 to 50 parts by weight and preferably 5 to 40 parts by weight acrylonitrile on a particulate silicone rubber with a mean particle diameter (d₅₀) of from 0.10 to 0.50 μm and preferably from 0.10 to 0.15 μm or from 0.25 to 0.50 μm having a total rubber content of from 30 to 90% by weight and preferably from 40 to 80% by weight and B) 95 to 5% by weight and preferably 80 to 20% by weight of a graft product of a mixture of 50 to 100 parts by weight and preferably 60 to 95 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, preferably p-methyl styrene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof and 0 to 50 parts by weight and preferably 5 to 40 parts by weight acrylonitrile on a particulate- acrylate rubber with a mean particle diameter (d₅₀) of from 0.05 to 1.00 μm and preferably from 0.08 to 0.15 μm or from 0.30 to 0.60 μm having a total rubber content of from 30 to 80% by weight and preferably from 40 to 75% by weight.

The graft products based on silicone rubber which may be used in the production of the molding compounds according to the invention are obtained by radical polymerization of vinyl monomers or mixtures of vinyl monomers in the presence of silicone rubber, more especially in the presence of silicone rubber in emulsion form, the monomers being at least partly grafted onto the rubber (graft polymerization). Suitable vinyl monomers are, for example, styrene, nucleus- or side-chain-substituted styrenes, more especially p-methyl styrene and α-methyl styrene, halogen-substituted styrenes, for example chlorostyrene or bromo-styrene, vinyl naphthalene, derivatives of α,β-unsaturated mono- or dicarboxylic acids, more especially C₁₋₅ alkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, preferably methyl methacrylate, or the nitriles of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, maleic anhydride, N-phenyl maleic imide or mixtures thereof.

A preferred monomer mixture is a combination of styrene and/or α-methyl styrene and acrylonitrile, preferably in a ratio by weight of styrene and/or α-methyl styrene to acrylonitrile of 1:1 to 10:1.

Suitable silicone rubbers are, for example, the compounds described in DE-OS 36 29 763 which consist essentially of chemically linked siloxane groups corresponding to the formulae R₂ SiO, RSiO_(3/2), R₂ R³ SiO_(1/2), SiO_(4/2), R¹ CH═CH--(R²)-- and H--S--, where R is a monofunctional, saturated hydrocarbon radical, more especially CH₃, phenyl, C₂ H₅, optionally substituted by SH, halogen, C₁₋₆ oxyalkyl, R¹ is H, C₁₋₆ alkyl, more especially H, CH₃, R² is a single bond, C₁₋₄ alkylene, more especially --CH₂ --, --C₂ H₄ --, a single bond and R³ has the same meaning as R or represents OH, the quantities of the individual siloxane units being gauged in such a way that 0 to 0.5 mol units R₂ R³ SiO_(1/2), 0 to 10 mol units of the formula RSiO_(3/2) and 0 to 3 mol units of the formula SiO_(4/2) are present per 100 mol units of the formula R₂ SiO.

Other suitable silicone rubbers have core/shell structure; for example particulate silicone rubbers surrounded by a shell of crosslinked acrylate rubber (cf. DE-OS 36 17 267) or particulate silicone rubbers containing a core of crosslinked acrylate rubber (cf. DE-OS 37 20 475) or of a styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer (cf. DE-OS 37 20 476). The graft products based on silicone rubbers (A) are preferably produced by emulsion polymerization using at least partly crosslinked silicone rubbers present in emulsion form as the graft base.

The graft polymerization may be carried out by known methods and is preferably carried out at temperatures of 30° C. to 100° C. using radical initiators, for example organic or inorganic peroxides, inorganic persulfates, for example potassium persulfate, azo initiators, for example azo-bis-isobutyronitrile, and redox systems consisting of an oxidizing agent, preferably a peroxide, and a reducing agent and optionally with addition of an aqueous emulsifier solution (for example anionic or nonionic emulsifier components, preferably sodium, potassium or ammonium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms, for example potassium oleate, alkyl sulfates containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms, alkyl sulfonates containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms or alkali or ammonium salts of disproportionated abietic acid). Polymerization may be carried out discontinuously (batch or semibatch process), continuously or otherwise (for example inflow process).

Apart from emulsion polymerization, it is also possible in principle to use suspension, solution or bulk polymerization and any combination of these processes in known manner for the production of the graft products.

The graft products based on silicone rubbers have a rubber content of 30 to 90% by weight and preferably 40 to 80% by weight. The mean particle diameters (d₅₀ values) of the silicone rubber component are from 0.10 to 0.50 μm and preferably from 0.10 to 0.15 μm and from 0.25 to 0.50 μm.

The graft products based on acrylate rubber (B) which are used for the production of the molding compounds according to the invention are obtained by radical polymerization of vinyl monomers or mixtures of vinyl monomers in the presence of acrylate rubber, the monomers being at least partly polymerized onto the rubber.

Suitable vinyl monomers are, for example, styrene, α-methyl styrene, nucleus-substituted styrenes, such as p-methyl styrene, C₁₋₅ alkyl esters of acrylic or methacrylic acid, preferably methyl methacrylate, maleic anhydride, N-phenyl maleic imide or mixtures thereof.

The preferred monomer mixture is a combination of styrene and/or α-methyl styrene and acrylonitrile, preferably in a ratio by weight of (α-methyl) styrene to acrylonitrile of 1:1 to 10:1.

Suitable acrylate rubbers are, for example, polymers based on C₁₋₅ alkyl acrylates (for example methyl, butyl, octyl or 2-ethylhexyl acrylate), optionally in admixture with up to 40% by weight other vinyl monomers. Polyfunctional monomers are copolymerized to crosslink the acrylate rubbers. Examples of polyfunctional monomers are esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids with a polyol (preferably 2 to 20 carbon atoms in the ester group), such as ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, esters of a polybasic carboxylic acid with an unsaturated alcohol (preferably 8 to 30 carbon atoms in the ester group), such as triallyl cyanurate, triallyl isocyanurate; divinyl compounds, such as divinyl benzene; esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids with unsaturated alcohols (preferably 6 to 12 carbon atoms in the ester group), such as allyl methacrylate; phosphoric acid esters, for example triallyl phosphate and 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-s-triazine. Particularly preferred polyfunctional monomers are triallyl cyanurate, triallyl isocyanurate, triallyl phosphate, allyl methacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-s-triazine.

The quantity of the polyfunctional monomers used for crosslinking is preferably from 0.05 to 10% by weight and more preferably from 0.1 to 5.0% by weight (based on the total quantity of crosslinked acrylate rubber). Other suitable acrylate rubber components are compounds of the so-called core/shell type, such as for example particulate acrylate rubbers containing a core of crosslinked polybutadiene (cf. EP-P 34 748). The graft products based on acrylate rubbers are preferably produced by emulsion polymerization, at least partly crosslinked acrylate rubbers present in emulsion form being used as the graft base.

The graft polymerization may be carried out by known methods and is preferably carried out at temperatures in the range from 30° to 100° C. using radical initiators, for example organic or inorganic peroxides, inorganic persulfates, for example potassium persulfate, azo initiators, for example azo-bis-isobutyronitrile, and redox systems consisting of an oxidizing agent, preferably a peroxide, and a reducing agent and optionally with addition of an aqueous emulsifier solution (for example anionic or non-ionic emulsifier components, preferably sodium, potassium or ammonium salts of long-chain carboxylic acids containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms, for example potassium oleate, alkyl sulfates containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms, alkyl sulfonates containing 10 to 20 carbon atoms or alkali or ammonium salts of disproportionated abietic acid). The reaction may be carried out discontinuously (batch or semibatch process), continuously or otherwise (for example inflow process).

Apart from emulsion polymerization, it is also possible in principle to use suspension, solution or bulk polymerization and combinations of these processes in known manner for the production of the graft products.

The graft products based on acrylate rubbers have a rubber content of 30 to 80% by weight and preferably 40 to 75% by weight. The mean particle diameters (d₅₀ values) of the acrylate rubber are from 0.05 to 1.00 μm, preferably from 0.08 to 0.15 μm or from 0.30 to 0.60 μm.

Particularly advantageous properties, especially high strength, preferably at low temperatures, and simultaneously good processibility are obtained when graft products having selected particle sizes are combined with one another, namely;

1. graft products based on silicone rubber (A) having mean particle diameters of 0.25 to 0.50 μm with graft products based on acrylate rubber (B) having mean particle diameters from 0.08 to 0.15 μm or

2. graft products based on silicone rubber (A) having mean particle diameters of 0.10 to 0.15 μm with graft products based on acrylate rubber (B) having mean particle diameters of 0.30 to 0.60 μm.

The molding compounds according to the invention may be produced by mixing their constituents A) and B) with one another at relatively high temperatures, more especially at 100° C. to 280° C., for example in kneaders, on roll stands or in screw extruders. Where A) and B) are obtained in the form of suspensions, solutions or emulsions, they may be mixed and worked up together.

Typical additives such as antioxidants, lubricants, flameproofing agents, fillers, pigments, antistatic agents, may be added in typical quantities to the molding compounds.

The mixtures according to the invention are ageing-resistant thermoplastic molding compounds combining high strength at low temperatures with good processibility where they are processed by extrusion, calendering and injection molding. They may be processed to ageing-resistant moldings, although they are also suitable as modifiers for other plastics, more especially for brittle vinyl monomer resins, such as styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers (SAN resins), α-methyl styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride.

In this case, they are generally used in quantities of 5 to 80% by weight and preferably in quantities of 10 to 70% by weight, based on the modified product as a whole.

A particularly preferred mixture of this type consists of 5 to 80% by weight and preferably 10 to 70% by weight of the mixture according to the invention and 95 to 20% by weight and preferably 90 to 30% by weight of a thermoplastic resin of 5 to 40 parts by weight acrylonitrile and 95 to 60 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, p-methyl styrene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof. These resins are known. They are often referred to as SAN resins. They may be combined with the mixture of the graft polymers by adding them during mixing of the graft polymers.

The resins must be present in the same physical form (solid, latex, solution) as the graft polymers. It is also possible to mix solid resins with prepared mixtures of the graft polymers or successively with the two graft polymer components in internal mixers and extruders.

In the context of the invention, particle size always means the mean particle diameter d₅₀ as determined by ultracentrifuge measurements in accordance with W. Scholtan et al., Kolloid-Z. u. Z. Polymere 250 (1972), 782-796.

EXAMPLES AND COMPARISON EXAMPLES A) Graft Product Based on a Silicone Rubber Having a Mean Particle Diameter (d₅₀) of 135 nm.

The silicone rubber emulsion is prepared as follows: 38.4 parts by weight octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane, 1.2 parts by weight tetramethyl tetravinyl cyclotetrasiloxane and 1 part by weight γ-mercaptopropyl methyl dimethoxysilane are stirred with one another. 1.00 Part by weight dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid are then added, followed by the introduction over a period of one hour with intensive stirring of 58.4 parts by weight water. The pre-emulsion is homogenized twice at approximately 220 bar in a high-pressure emulsifying machine. Another 0.5 part by weight dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid are then added. The emulsion is stirred for two hours at 85° C. and then for 36 hours at room temperature. It is neutralized using 5 N NaOH. A stable emulsion having a solids content of approximately 36% is obtained; the mean particle diameter (d₅₀) is 135 nm.

Grafting Reaction

The following constituents are introduced into a reactor:

2107 parts by weight of the latex described above

1073 parts by weight water

After initiation with a solution of 7.5 parts by weight potassium peroxodisulfate in 195 parts by weight water at 65° C., the following solutions are uniformly introduced into the reactor over a period of 4 hours:

Solution 1

540 parts by weight styrene

210 parts by weight acrylonitrile

Solution 2

375 parts by weight water

15 parts by weight sodium salt of

C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl sulfonic acids

Polymerization is then completed over a period of 4 hours at 65° C. A latex having a solids content of approximately 33% by weight is obtained. After coagulation with an aqueous magnesium chloride/acetic acid solution, filtration and drying in vacuo, the graft product is obtained in the form of a white powder.

B) Graft Product Based on a Silicone Rubber Having a Mean Particle Diameter (d₅₀) of 320 nm.

The silicone rubber emulsion was prepared in the same way as described in A), except that 0.90 part by weight dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid was used and the pressure in the homogenizing step was approximately 190 bar. The grafting reaction was carried out as described in A).

C) Graft Product Based on a Core/Shell Silicone Rubber Having a Mean Particle Size (d₅₀) of 325 nm.

Production comprised the following steps:

(C.1) Silicone Emulsion

38.4 parts by weight octamethyl cyclotetrasiloxane, 1.2 parts by weight tetramethyl tetravinyl cyclotetrasiloxane and 0.2 part by weight tetraethoxy silane are stirred with one another. 0.5 Part by weight dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid are then added, followed by the introduction over a period of 1 hour with intensive stirring stirring of 70 parts by weight water. The pre-emulsion is homogenized twice at approximately 220 bar in a high-pressure emulsifying machine. Another 0.5 part by weight dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid is then added. The emulsion is stirred for 2 hours at 85° C. and then for 36 hours at room temperature. It is neutralized with 5N NaOH. A stable emulsion having a solids content of approximately 36% is obtained.

C.2 Silicone Rubber in an Acrylate Rubber Shell

The following constituents are introduced into a reactor:

2500 parts by weight of the latex described under C.1

228 parts by weight water.

A solution of 3 parts by weight potassium peroxodisulfate in 100 parts by weight water is introduced into the reactor at 70° C. The following solutions are then introduced into the reactor over a period of 5 hours at 70° C.:

solution 1

387 parts by weight n-butyl acrylate

1 part by weight triallyl cyanurate

solution 2

500 parts by weight water

10 parts by weight sodium salt of

C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl sulfonic acids

Polymerization is then completed over a period of 4 hours at 70° C. The latex formed contains the polymer in a concentration of 35% by weight. The polymer consists of 70% by weight silicone rubber and 30% by weight acrylate rubber.

C.3 Graft Product

The following constituents are introduced into a reactor:

3700 parts by weight of the latex described under C.2

770 parts by weight water.

After initiation with a solution of 3.5 parts by weight potassium peroxodisulfate in 150 parts by weight water at 70° C., the following solutions are uniformly introduced into the reactor over a period of 5 hours:

solution 1

455 parts by weight methyl methacrylate

400 parts by weight styrene

solution 2

1000 parts by weight water

30 parts by weight sodium salt of

C₁₄₋₁₈ alkyl sulfonic acids

Polymerization is then completed over a period of 4 hours at 70° to 75° C. A latex having a solids content of approximately 33% by weight is obtained.

(D) Graft Product Based on Acrylate Rubber (Mean Particle Diameter (d₅₀) Approx. 100 nm)

99.5 Parts by weight n-butyl acrylate and 0.5 part by weight triallyl cyanurate are added over a period of 4 hours to a solution of 3 parts by weight of the sodium salt of C₉₋₁₈ alkyl sulfonic acids and 0.75 part by weight potassium persulfate in 150 parts by weight water, the temperature being adjusted to 65° C. Following an after-reaction of 2 hours at 65° C., a 40% latex having a mean particle diameter (d₅₀) of approximately 100 nm is obtained.

4334 Parts by weight of this polybutyl acrylate latex are heated to 64° C., followed by the addition of a solution of 14.5 parts by weight K₂ S₂ O₈ in 2635 parts by weight water. The following constituents are then simultaneously added with stirring over a period of 4 hours:

835.2 parts by weight styrene

324.8 parts by weight acrylonitrile

783.0 parts by weight of a 7.4% solution of C₉₋₁₈ alkyl sulfonic acid, sodium salt, in water.

After stirring for 2 hours, a graft latex having a solids content of 33% is obtained, being converted into the graft product in the form of a white powder by coagulation with an aqueous magnesium sulfate/ acetic acid solution, filtration and drying in vacuo.

E) Graft Product Based on a Core/Shell Acrylate Rubber Having a Mean Particle Diameter (d₅₀) of Approximately 480 nm

7.5 Parts by weight potassium persulfate (dissolved in 2400 parts by weight water) are added to 22.44 parts by weight of a polybutadiene latex having a solids content of 40.1% and a mean particle diameter (d₅₀) of 100 nm, the following additions then being made at the same time over a period of 5 hours at 65° C.:

(a) 22.5 parts by weight sodium salt of C₉₋₁₈ alkyl sulfonic acids (dissolved in 375 parts by weight water)

(b) 1500 parts by weight n-butylacrylate and 1.5 parts by weight triallyl cyanurate.

Following an after-reaction time of 4 hours at 65° C., a core/shell acrylate rubber having a solids content of 35% and a mean particle size (d₅₀) of 480 nm is obtained.

4953 Parts by weight of this core/shell rubber latex are heated to 63° C., followed by the addition of a solution of 14.5 parts by weight potassium peroxydisulfate in 2016 parts by weight water. 835.2 Parts by weight styrene, 324.8 parts by weight acrylonitrile and 783.0 parts by weight of a 7.4% solution of C₉₋₁₈ alkyl sulfonic acids, sodium salt, in water are then simultaneously added with stirring over a period of 4 hours. Following an after-reaction time of 2 hours, a graft latex having a solids content of 33% is obtained, being converted into the graft product in the form of a white powder by coagulation with an aqueous magnesium sulfate/acetic acid solution, filtration and drying in vacuo.

(F) Styrene/Acrylonitrile (72:28) Copolymer Having an Mw of approximately 115,000 and an Mw/Mn-1 of ≦2.0 G) α-Methyl Styrene/Acrylonitrile (72:28) Copolymer Having an Mw of approximately 75,000 and an Mw/Mn-1 of ≦2.0

The quantities by weight of components A) to G) shown in Table 1 were mixed with 2 parts by weight pentaerythritol tetrastearate and 0.1 part by weight of a silicone oil in an internal kneader at approximately 200° C. after which the resulting mixture was granulated and then processed by injection molding at 240° C. (75 second cycle). Impact strength was measured at -40° C. and notched impact strength at room temperature and at -40° C. in accordance with DIN 53 453 (unit: kJ/m²) while softening point (Vicat B) was measured in accordance with DIN 53 460 (unit: °C.). Flow was evaluated by measurement of the MVI value in accordance with DIN 53 735 U (unit: cm³ /10 mins.).

The test data of the molding compounds are shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Compositions of the molding compounds                                          Molding Parts by weight                                                        compound                                                                               A       B       C   D    E     F     G                                 ______________________________________                                          1      22.5    --      --  18.75                                                                               --    58.75 --                                 2      --        22.5  --  18.75                                                                               --    58.75 --                                 3      22.5    --      --  --   18.75 58.75 --                                 4      --        22.5  --  --   18.75 58.75 --                                 5      --      --      20  16.75                                                                               --    --    63.25                              6      --      20      --  --   16.75 --    63.25                              7 (Comp.)                                                                             --      45      --  --   --    55    --                                 8 (Comp.)                                                                             --      --      --  --   37.5  62.5  --                                 9 (Comp.)                                                                             --      40      --  --   --    --    60                                10 (Comp.)                                                                             --      --      --  --   33.5  --    66.5                              ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Test data of the molding compounds                                             Molding  RT 20° C.                                                                         -40° C.                                                                          -40° C.                                     compound ak        ak       an     Vicat B                                                                               MVI                                  ______________________________________                                          1       14.3      6.9      99.3    98    4.2                                   2       15.8      8.8      79.0    99    4.8                                   3       16.1      9.2      108.4   98    5.6                                   4       15.2      7.6      51.8    98    5.2                                   5       13.7      7.1      88.0   104    2.3                                   6       11.8      5.2      81.7   105    3.8                                   7 (Comp.)                                                                              15.4      10.6     96.5    96    2.2                                   8 (Comp.)                                                                              5.6       2.5      48.0   102    8.1                                   9 (Comp.)                                                                              13.8      5.0      75.1   105    0.6                                  10 (Comp.)                                                                              4.8       2.7      48.3   108    2.6                                  ______________________________________                                          ak = notched impact strength                                                   an = impact strength                                                      

We claim:
 1. Molding compositions ofA) 5 to 95% by weight based on the weight of the composition of a graft product of a mixture of 50 to 100 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof and 0 to 50 parts by weight acrylonitrile on a particulate silicone rubber with a mean particle diameter (d₅₀) of from 0.10 to 0.50 μm having a total rubber content of from 30 to 90% by weight based on the weight of the graft product and B) 95 to 5% by weight based on the weight of the composition of a graft product of a mixture of 50 to 100 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof and 0 to 50 parts by weight acrylonitrile on a particulate acrylate rubber with a mean particle diameter (d₅₀) of from 0.05 to 1.00 μm having a total rubber content of from 30 to 80% by weight based on the weight of the graft product.
 2. Molding compositions ofA) 20 to 80% by weight based on the weight of the composition of a graft product of a mixture of 60 to 95 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof and 5 to 40 parts by weight acrylonitrile on a particulate silicone rubber with a mean particle diameter (d₅₀) of from 0.10 to 0.15 μm or from 0.25 to 0.50 μm having a total rubber content of from 40 to 80% by weight based on the weight of the graft product and B) 80 and 20% by weight of a graft product of a mixture of 60 to 95 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, vinyl toluene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof and 5 to 40 parts by weight acrylonitrile on a particulate acrylate rubber with a mean particle diameter (d₅₀) of from 0.08 to 0.15 μm or from 0.30 to 0.60 μm having a total rubber content of from 40 to 75% by weight based on the weight of the graft product.
 3. Molding compositions comprising from 5 to 80% by weight of the molding composition claimed in claim 1 and from 95 to 20% by weight of a thermoplastic resin of 5 to 40 parts by weight acrylonitrile and 95 to 60 parts by weight styrene, α-methyl styrene, p-methyl styrene, methyl methacrylate or mixtures thereof wherein the % by weight is based on the total weight of the molding composition of claim 1 and the thermoplastic resin. 